Jakarta Authorities Warn of Potential Covid-19 Clusters in Workplaces

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Jakarta’s chief health officer has warned about the renewed spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in the capital, following the discovery of a cluster of cases at the state-owned Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) July 21.

Jakarta Health Services chief Widyastuti said that the reopening of businesses has made the coronavirus spread faster in the capital.

“Offices in Jakarta are potential clusters for Covid-19. We have received word that a number of offices reported their employees fell ill with the disease,” she said July 23.

Also read: State Radio in Indonesia Placed on Lockdown As 3 Workers Test Positive for Covid-19

"The workplaces range from state-owned businesses, ministries, and corporations,” she added, without giving any specifics.

Widiastuti noted that the offices took a variety of preventive measures. “Some offices closed down temporarily and disinfected their workspaces.” 

“Others would close down the building or the floor where the [coronavirus] case was found. All of them routinely used disinfectant, especially on points that are unavoidably touched, like toilets.”

Widiastuti believed that while the Covid-19 virus spread in offices, they did not always originate there. “The employees [who carried the coronavirus] contracted it from their activities elsewhere.” 

“But their behavior during lunch break and office hours, such as taking off their masks to eat, are just as critical. That is why we urge the public to abide by health protocols like wearing masks, routinely washing hands, and keep to social distancing.”

Sudin Kominfotik Jakarta Utara Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan officially launches apps for self-isolating Covid-19 cases

Also read: Jakarta Covid-19 Restrictions Extended for Another Two Weeks

RRI has closed down its offices until August 4 and made their employees work from home, after three tested positive for Covid-19.

The Jakarta Provincial Administration also intensified their countermeasures against Covid-19 by introducing four online apps to aid people afflicted with Covid-19 undergo self-isolation.
“[The apps] are vital, as [cases] who go into self-isolation are among the hardest to find,” said Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan during the product’s launch in North Jakarta.

Called Semangat Hadapi Covid or Sehad (Be Strong in Facing Covid), Pantau Jakarta Utara Sehad (Sehad Monitoring North Jakarta), SPKTku, and Si Pitung Cerdas (Smart Pitung), the applications can be downloaded on Android smartphones via Google Play Store.

Its creators claim the apps can be used for various emergencies, ranging from contacting the Jakarta Covid-19 Task Force at the local level to requesting food supplies in case they run out. 

The Jakarta Provincial Administration has extended the transition from Large Scale Social Distancing until July 30.